minuscule salary

USAGE SUMMARY

"minuscule salary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a very small salary, often one that is far below what is considered a living wage. For example, "The factory workers earn a minuscule salary that does not even cover their basic needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

She is expected to turn over to the family the minuscule salary she earns dethorning roses in a sweatshop atmosphere.

The New York Times

Engelhard said he is confident that there are ways to negotiate around the Jets' minuscule salary cap space.

The New York Times - Sports

The key figure was Arthur Deakin, who as general secretary of the transport workers faithfully administered from a tiny office for a minuscule salary the affairs of his vast organisation.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Based on the steady coverage of how humanities are losing their popularity, tales of woe about art and psychology graduates making minuscule salaries, and the drum beat to push students towards STEM degrees, you might think the liberal arts is dying in favor of technical majors.

Huffington Post

And if you're wondering how Bo Xilai managed on a minuscule state salary to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for Guagua to study in Britain and now the United States (where he downgraded to a Porsche), well, great question!

The New York Times

His family is crowded into a minuscule apartment provided by his official "work unit," and like him, his wife, an accountant with a state firm, has a meager salary.

The New York Times

Eventually Carolingian minuscule was displaced by Gothic, or black letter, minuscule script.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It's a good deal – or so it seems – unless you realize you are paying a tuition bill in return for a job that either doesn't offer a salary or pays an amount so minuscule it's unlikely to cover the cost of books, much less the tuition bill.

The Guardian - Money

But surely no one would, in hindsight, begrudge the minuscule amount of taxpayers' money that paid for Higgs's salary at the University of Edinburgh all those years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even in markets where luck plays no role, minuscule differences in performance often translate into enormous differences in salaries.

The New York Times

As the Census study shows, in some fields the bump from an advanced degree is minuscule (meteorology), or relatively small because it's coming off an already low salary (counseling psychology).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minuscule salary" when you want to emphasize not just the smallness, but the almost negligible amount of money someone earns. It often carries a connotation of unfairness or hardship.

Common error

While "minuscule salary" is acceptable in news and opinion pieces, avoid it in very formal or business documents where a more neutral term like "low salary" or "minimal compensation" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minuscule salary" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "minuscule" modifies the noun "salary". It serves to describe the size or amount of the salary, emphasizing its smallness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minuscule salary" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a very small salary. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples primarily from news and media sources. While it's not an extremely common phrase, its impact lies in emphasizing the inadequacy and potential unfairness of the compensation. When writing, consider the context, as more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "low salary" or "minimal compensation". Using "minuscule salary" effectively can add a layer of criticism or concern to your writing, highlighting economic disparities or evoking sympathy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Tiny salary

Replaces "minuscule" with "tiny", a more common synonym emphasizing small size.

Very small salary

Uses a more direct and less nuanced description of the salary's size.

Paltry salary

Emphasizes the inadequacy and insignificance of the salary.

Minimal salary

Focuses on the salary being at the lowest possible level.

Meager salary

Highlights the insufficiency and lack of abundance in the salary.

Low salary

A general term for a salary that is not high.

Insignificant salary

Stresses the lack of importance or consequence of the salary's amount.

Nominal salary

Suggests the salary is so small it's almost symbolic.

Microscopic salary

Uses hyperbole to emphasize the extreme smallness of the salary.

Chicken feed

An informal idiom indicating a very small amount of money.

FAQs

What does "minuscule salary" mean?

A "minuscule salary" refers to a very small salary, often one that is inadequate to meet basic needs. It emphasizes the insignificance and potential unfairness of the amount.

What are some synonyms for "minuscule salary"?

Alternatives include "tiny salary", "paltry salary", "minimal salary", and "meager salary". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "minuscule salary" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "minuscule salary" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider using more neutral terms like "low salary" or "limited compensation" in business or academic documents.

How can I use "minuscule salary" in a sentence?

Example: "Despite working long hours, the factory workers received only a "minuscule salary"." You can use it to highlight the disparity between effort and compensation.